It allows us to send a strong message to those that would threaten the alliance that we’re here and ready to fight with our partners and allies at a moment’s notice.

Planning for this training and others like it in Bulgaria for Saber Guardian began before U.S. Army Soldiers even arrived in country. After exchanging emails and setting training parameters, the groups sat down to define each other’s roles in the mission and discuss the tactics, techniques and procedures they would be using to execute it.

The mission’s formation of helicopters was led by an AS532 Cougar helicopter from the Bulgarian Air Force, followed by two of 10th CAB’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and an Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter providing security in the rear. A service member from each unit was dropped off in a remote area, tasked with creating some kind of distinctive sign on the ground so they could be pinpointed after a search beacon gave off their general location to the search party.

The Bulgarians have been a great team to work with

, said Scroggin.

Their Cougar and Hind pilots are very skilled. The mountainous location gives us a great chance to practice terrain flying, and I’m just really excited for the training that has yet to come.

Within hours of being “lost,” the service members were promptly recovered by the formation of NATO allies, demonstrating their ability to quickly and successfully work together in the air and on the ground.

I think the most important thing is that we can improve our interoperability. We can compare the procedures that we are using and that our American colleagues use and standardize the way we work together.

10th Combat Aviation Brigade will remain Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary for the majority of the month, training alongside NATO allies in the U.S. European Command, U.S. Army Europe-led annual summer exercise.

Exercise Saber Guardian 17 involves more than 25,000 service members from over 20 ally and partner nations. The largest of the Black Sea Region exercises, it is a premier training event for U.S. Army Europe and participating nations that builds readiness and improves interoperability under a unified command, executing a full range of military missions to support the security and stability of the Black Sea Region.

Crashed WW II Military Aircraft Found Near a Bulgarian Village

On 18th May 2018, the Bulgarian Air Force announced on their website further information in relation to the unique operation for dragging out the remains of a crashed WW II military aircraft, found accidentally during routine draining works within а swampy terrain near the village of Maritsa, Bulgaria.

The operation has started on 11th May 2018 and will continue till the task is completed. It is being performed with the joint efforts of the Bulgarian Air Force and Land Forces, the Military Police Service and the Military Medical Academy, as well as with the coordination activities on behalf of the Joint Forces Command

After orders of the Defence Minister, Krasimir Karakachanov, and the Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, Major General Tsanko Stoykov, a working group led by Colonel Kalin Tsenov are continuing the works on the recovery of the found military aircraft, which, as of the moment, is considered to be Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 – a German World War II fighter aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 109, Photo credit: Wikipedia

It is a very important finding for Bulgaria, because the found fighter appears to be the “biggest physical trace of the heroism of the Bulgarian fighter-pilot, who have given their lives defending the Bulgarian sky during the World War II,” stated from the Bulgarian Air Force.

As of the moment, it has been discovered the following aircraft parts, which are considered to be of impotance: an engine Db 605, a propeller hub, barrel of a 20 mm MG 151/20 weapon, approximately 150 aircraft catridges and links, and various units and parts of the aircraft, bearing authentic factory numbers.

All gathered parts will be handed over to the National Museum of Military History, where they will be prepared for exhibiting to the public. The aircraft and its engine were identified with the help of lovers of aviation history.

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The Ministers of Defence of the EU Member States Meet in Sofia

The Ministers of Defence of the EU member states meet in Sofia, announced from the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence.

The two-day Informal Meeting starts today, 4th May 2018, and is part of the official calendar of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The meeting will be hosted by the Minister of Defence, Krasimir Karakachanov and besides the EU Defence Ministers, representatives of the United Nations, NATO, the European Commission, the European Union Military Committee, the EU Military Staff, and other EU authorities will be also attendants.

Some of the topics that will be discussed are the major activities of the European Defence Agency, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the Action Plan on military mobility, and the perspectives for crisis management.

Within the Informal Meeting it will be also held a session of the European Defence Agency.

On Friday, 4th May, the Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy /Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini will welcome officially the Heads of the Delegations at Boyana Residence at 7:30pm, after which a photo of the participants in the Informal Meeting will be taken at 8:10pm.

On Saturday, 5th May, at 7:30am, the Minister of Defence Krasimir Karakachanov will welcome the Heads of the delegations in the National Palace of Culture (Entrance A6). After the working sessions, there will be a press conference, hold by the Minister of Defence of Bulgaria, Krasimir Karakachanov, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, at Hall 6 of the National Palace of Culture, starting at 12.15pm (noon).

The access to Boyana Residence and the National Palace of Culture for the above mentioned activities will be allowed only to accredited representatives of the media.

Bulgaria Will Pay the First Instalment for Repair of the MiG-29s. The Atlantic Council Disputes the Signed Contract

Today, at a regular meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Republic of Bulgaria approved the payment of the first instalment of BGN 26 million for repair of the Bulgarian MiG-29s.

The money is foreseen in the budget of the Ministry of Defence for repair of the aircrafts in question in accordance with the signed agreement between the Bulgarian country and the Russian company RSK MiG.

In its entirety, the financing in question should provide Bulgaria with execution of the undertaken engagements for air defence and implementation of the NATO’s collective defence mechanisms and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the European Union.

Today it became clear that the contract with the Russian Federation is being disputed by the Atlantic Club. In accordance with the Organization whose members are lots of military specialists and other experts, there are particular texts that are in favour of the Russians. For example, it is left to RSK MiG to define what the deadlines for execution of the activities under the contracts will be, regardless of the priorities of the Ministry of Defence. Aviation experts, including the president Rumen Radev, disputed the scope of the order by indicating that the purchase of new machinery shall be considered as a priority.

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No Bulgarian Service Members Injured in Kabul Bombing

No Bulgarian service members were injured on Sunday, 22nd April 2018, in the explosion in the Afghan capital Kabul. This was said by the National Commander of the 35th Rotating Bulgarian Military Contingent in Afghanistan – Colonel Georgi Margitin, reported the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

The explosion took place at quite big distance from the base where the Bulgarian service members are deployed in support of the NATO’s Resolute Support mission.

Since the start of the registration process on 14th April for elections scheduled for October in Afghanistan, this is the first attack in Kabul against a voter registration centre, outside which a bomber blew himself up on Sunday, 22nd April. At least 57 people were killed and 119 were injured, but the total numbers would probably rise. Nearby cars and buildings were also destroyed.

Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria).

A month ago on 21st March there was another attack in Kabul. The victims then were over 30, and the injured people – at least 70. The responsibility for the attack then was also claimed by the Islamic State.

The attack on 22nd April is reported to be the deadliest attack in Kabul since January when 100 people were killed by explosives hidden in an ambulance.

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